Israel: Sisi's Sinai battles depend on our intelligence

Israeli political and security sources revealed that Israel divulges intelligence information to Egypt about groups and Islamist organisations working in the region to better aid the Egyptian army’s response to the groups.

Yedioth Ahronoth, reported that sources had revealed on Wednesday morning a willingness to pass intelligence information to Egypt in order to aid them as it they lack the necessary intelligence information to combat these “terrorist” organisations.

The sources reaffirmed that the relationship between Israel and the Egyptian army “has never been better than it is now.”

Sources also indicated that the Egyptian army and the security institutions in Cairo continue to cooperate and liaise with Tel Aviv on mutual interests, their combat against “extreme” Islamic groups the basis for this strategic partnership.

They also said that Israel benefits from the Egyptian army’s presence in the Sinai, especially in Upper Egypt as it enabled the Israeli army to improve its ability to combat Hamas and other organisations and the danger they pose.

Sources clarified that the Egyptian army had improved the national security of Israel in their crackdown on the prevention of weapons being smuggled to Palestinian groups in the Gaza strip.

The sources noted that Sinai was an open area easy for weapon smuggling operations to Gaza and highlighted the reality of the situation facing the Egyptian army.

They went on to note that all evidence pointed to the “truth and integrity” of the war being waged by Al-Sisi against Hamas and the Palestinian organisations in the Gaza strip and the Jihadist organisations and the parties responsible for weapon smuggling in the Sinai.

In that vein, Israeli media has given great attention to Al-Sisi’s recent messages in recent televised interviews, especially the assurances he has given Israel.

Observers in Israel have dwelled on Al-Sisi’s affirmation that the presence of the Egyptian army in Sinai benefits Israeli security more so than Egypt’s.

In a report published by Ynet on Wednesday, reporters Roi Kais and Attila Somfalvi stated, “Sisi said that Israel understands that the lack of presence of the Egyptian army in Sinai represents a great threat to its security, which is a threat to Egypt”

They added that, “the man that is about to lead Egypt assures Israel of a better future, and reminds us of the danger that threatens Israel from the south” pointing out that Al-Sisi’s confirmation of the presence of the Egyptian army in Sinai comes only to combat terrorism and that “Israel understands the size of its gravity.”

The reporters noted that Al-Sisi was backing out of his previous promise to change the Camp David agreement, linking it to an understanding with Israel, citing that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his agreement to increasing the Egyptian troops presence in the Sinai understanding the importance of their role in combating “extreme Islam”.

Translated from Arabi21, May 21, 2014